Vladimir Sidorenko, the winner of the Cadet Boys' Singles title at the 2016 European Youth Championships, is a former participant (Photo: Alex Lomaev - Butterfly)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

First staged in 2001, one year after the passing of Nikolay Nikitin, the 16th edition of the well-established tournament will commence on Wednesday 23rd November and conclude on Sunday 27th November.

Home is St Petersburg, a city steeped in history and one in which Nikolay Nikitin lived; an avid table tennis player he was elected President of the St Petersburg Table Tennis Federation.

Furthermore, he proved a most successful businessman. He was the founder of the Eurosib enterprise, a transport and logistics company whose headquarters are in St Petersburg with a logistics base in Novosibirk.

Pertinently, the company has a policy of supporting the young people and fostering international relations. Dimitry Nikitin, his son, is now the person at the helm and continues his late father’s philosophy of encouraging and supporting youth.

Memorably, Eurosib was the title sponsor for a series of highly successful ITTF World Tour tournaments staged in St Petersburg from 2004 to 2007.

Play will take place in the Kometa on 12 tables with a further eight being available for practice.

No less than 209 players have entered the five day tournament; 56 girls and 57 boys with play in the Hopes age group; 48 boys and 48 girls will compete in the Cadet category.

The numbers are most impressive and one wonders is there a name that will emerge to follow in the footsteps of illustrious predecessors?